Nick Beard, a slow left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman, took to cricket at the age of six in his hometown of Otago. Having represented Otago at the Under-17 and 19 levels, he was included in New Zealand's squad for the junior World Cup in Malaysia. His favourite cricketer is Nathan Astle and if he doesn't stick on as a professional cricketer Beard aspires to become a sports journalist. Cricinfo staff February 2008